Whittled Words – Madrigal Poem
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Welcome to the weekly series, Whittled Words. A series highlighting the innumerable types and styles of poetry to challenge any creative wordsmith. This week’s selection:
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MADRIGAL
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The madrigal originated as an Italian form, as a pastoral song. The Italian madrigal is written in lines of either seven or 11 syllables and is comprised of two or three tercets, followed by one or two rhyming couplets. Just as variable as the lines and line lengths is the rhyme scheme. In fact, there’s so much variability that I am going to focus more on the “English” madrigal.
For the English-version of the madrigal (developed by Geoffrey Chaucer), the rules are much more defined.
Here they are:
Usually written in iambic pentameter.
Comprised of three stanzas: a tercet, quatrain, and sestet.
All three of the lines in the opening tercet are refrains.
The poem follows this rhyme pattern:
Line 1: A
Line 2: B1
Line 3: B2
Line 4: a
Line 5: b
Line 6: A
Line 7: B1
Line 8: a
Line 9: b
Line 10: b
Line 11: A
Line 12: B1
Line 13: B2
Note: As with many poetic forms, the madrigal has taken on a life of its own and artistic license has evolved it into anything resembling a lyrical song. Many examples can be found that meet few or no form requirements as the original form in either Italian or English.
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Examples of Madrigal Poems:
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WHAT I SHOULD HAVE TOLD MY DAUGHTER
By Lawrencealot
Remember Suzy, lovely dreams come true
so dream of love and settle not for less.
Be not so anxious for that first caress.
The kind of man you get depends on you.
A fallen apple does not much impress.
Be patient dear, for lovely dreams come true.
So dream of love and settle not for less.
The pressing, selfish man you must eschew
though urges will be strong, I shall confess.
Your prince will come and you’ll not have to guess.
You need not rush, for lovely dreams come true.
So dream of love and settle not for less.
Be not so anxious for that first caress.
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LIFE IN REVERSE
By Cona Adams
My journey’s ending where it first began,
a clownish act reversed in backward mode,
as brain cells scramble forth to read the code.
Perhaps I need a comprehensive scan
before diminished cells embrace implode.
My journey’s ending where it first began,
a clownish act reversed in backward mode.
I search to find a worthy rescue plan
my baby steps lead up and down the road
so often saddled with another’s load.
My journey’s ending where it first began,
a clownish act reversed in backward mode,
as brain cells scramble forth to read the code.
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TRUEST LOVE
By Brad Osborne
The truest love can never really die
It lives on, loves on for eternity
The bedrock for all of humanity
In its absence we may want to ask why
When it has disappeared from what we see
The truest love can never really die
It lives on, loves on for eternity
Though love may hide from a long searching eye
If it is sought with a voracity
The harder to find is the given free
The truest love can never really die
It lives on, loves on for eternity
The bedrock for all of humanity
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I hope you have enjoyed this entry to the series, Whittled Words. I look forward to your comments, and if you dare, maybe share your own Madrigal poem. Thanks for reading!
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commonsensiblyspeaking 
I enjoyed this form. It looks somewhat challenging, but straightforward enough to understand.
I really liked Lawrencealot’s poem, but yours is my favorite!
Thank you, dear friend! This is one of those forms that works beautifully when you have penned a couple of lines you absolutely love. It gives the opportunity to build an entire poem around the refrain. Can’t wait to read yours!
I had already figured that if I planned the lines to repeat first, the rest would be easier to fill in! Perhaps I should start with this form! Thanks for sharing these. You are such an inspiration!
lovely form and poem –
Thank you, Beth!
A very melodic…as it should be…form and your example was smashing good!
I am not surprised you recognize the musicality of this form. Thank you, my friend!
A madrigal, of course, a very interesting and enchanting way to write, and you do it to perfection my friend. All the best!
Thank you, brother!
A pleasure my brother.